Programa del congreso

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is commonly used in acetabular inserts, but its long-term performance is impacted by oxidation and wear. This study compares the clinical impact of the Duration process on UHMWPE components. The historical ABG I model was sterilized by gamma irradiation in air, while ABG II incorporated the Duration process, involving nitrogen packaging before irradiation and thermal stabilization (50 °C for 144 hours). Nineteen retrieved acetabular inserts (six ABG I and thirteen ABG II) were analyzed. Oxidation was measured via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and wear was assessed by thickness variation normalized to implantation time. ABG II samples showed significantly lower oxidation (mean=0.8) than ABG I (mean=3.4), with p=0.023 and Cohen’s d=2.22. Wear rates were also higher for ABG I inserts, consistent with the role of oxidation in the mechanical degradation. Oxidation was reduced by 76.5% and wear decreased by 30% in ABG II retrievals compared to the historical model. Clinically, revision analysis revealed that osteolysis-driven revisions dropped from 16.7% in ABG I to 7.7% in ABG II, with aseptic loosening becoming the predominant cause (46%) in the latter. In conclusion, the Duration process substantially enhances UHMWPE acetabular insert performance by lowering oxidation and wear, leading to clinically relevant reductions in revision rates due to osteolysis.